Q4 2015 Production Report
28 January, 2016
Anglo American plc Production Report for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2015
Overview
| Q4 2015 | Q4 2014 | % vs. Q4 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | 2015 vs. 2014 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron ore – Kumba (Mt) | 10.9 | 12.4 | (12)% | 44.9 | 48.2 | (7)% |
| Iron ore – Minas-Rio (Mt)(1) | 3.3 | 0.7 | nm | 9.2 | 0.7 | nm |
| Export metallurgical coal (Mt) | 5.5 | 4.9 | 11% | 21.2 | 20.9 | 1% |
| Export thermal coal (Mt) | 7.7 | 9.7 | (21)% | 33.8 | 34.6 | (2)% |
| Copper (t)(2) (3) | 181,400 | 174,800 | 4% | 708,800 | 748,100 | (5)% |
| Nickel (t)(4) | 10,500 | 6,700 | 57% | 30,300 | 37,200 | (19)% |
| Platinum (produced ounces) (koz)(5) | 598 | 603 | (1)% | 2,337 | 1,870 | 25% |
| Diamonds (Mct)(6) | 7.1 | 8.4 | (16)% | 28.7 | 32.6 | (12)% |
- Q4 2015 production increased by 3% (on a copper equivalent basis) compared to both Q4 2014 and Q3 2015. The 2015 full year production increased by 5% (on a copper equivalent basis)(7).
- Iron ore production from Kumba decreased by 12% to 10.9 million tonnes as Sishen is being transitioned to a lower cost pit configuration.
- Minas-Rio produced 3.3 million tonnes (wet basis) of iron ore, a more than fourfold increase compared to 0.7 million tonnes in Q4 2014, reflecting the ongoing ramp up of the operation.
- Export metallurgical coal production increased by 11% to 5.5 million tonnes due to strong operational performances at both Grasstree and Moranbah.
- Export thermal coal production decreased by 21% to 7.7 million tonnes due to the impact of strikes in South Africa and weather related production issues at Cerrejón.
- Copper production from the retained operations (excluding the AA Norte assets that were sold effective 1 September 2015) increased by 23% to 181,400 tonnes due to higher grades, throughput and metal recoveries. Overall copper production increased by 4%.
- Nickel production increased by 57% to 10,500 tonnes following the successful completion of the planned Barro Alto furnace rebuilds.
- Niobium production increased by 23% to 1,600 tonnes with the continuing ramp up of the Boa Vista Fresh Rock (BVFR) plant. Fertiliser production increased by 6%.
- Platinum production (expressed as metal in concentrate)(5) was broadly flat at 598,000 ounces with operational improvements at own operations, offset by a reduction in purchase of concentrate ounces from third parties.
- Diamond production decreased by 16% to 7.1 million carats, reflecting the decision to reduce production in response to trading conditions.
This Production Report for the fourth quarter ended 31 December 2015 is unaudited.
(1) Wet basis;
(2) Copper production from the Copper business unit;
(3) Copper production shown on a contained metal basis;
(4) Nickel production from the Nickel business unit;
(5) In keeping with industry benchmarks, production disclosure has been amended to reflect own mine production and purchases of metal in concentrate. Previous disclosure of own mine production and purchases of metal in concentrate was converted to equivalent refined production using standard smelting and refining recoveries;
(6) De Beers production on 100% basis;
(7) Copper equivalent production using long-term prices and normalised for the sale of Anglo Norte.
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